What part of the body produces bile? - Digestive Health - Sharecare What part of the body produces bile? Topics | Digestive Health | What part of the body produces bile? A Answers (1) A Dr. Todd P. Mangione, DO , Surgery, answered on behalf of Baptist Health South Florida Bile, a digestive fluid, is produced in your liver. Your liver releases bile into your gallbladder, a small, pear-shaped organ located just below your liver in the upper right side of your abdomen. Your gallbladder concentrates and stores the bile. Then, when you consume a meal, your gallbladder releases just enough bile into your intestine to help digest your food, especially the fat in your food. Gallbladder and Bile - Digestive System Digestive System Home > Digestive System > Digestive System of the Lower Torso > Stomach, Gallbladder and Pancreas > Gallbladder Gallbladder The gallbladder is a small storage organ located inferior and posterior to the liver. Though small in size, the gallbladder plays an important role in our digestion of food.

The gallbladder holds bile produced in the liver until it is needed for digesting fatty foods in the duodenum of the small intestine. Bile in the gallbladder may crystallize and form gallstones, which can become painful and potentially life threatening.... Move up/down/left/right: Click compass arrows Rotate image: Click and drag in any direction, anywhere in the frame Identify objects: Click on them in the image Anatomy of the Gallbladder Gross Anatomy Hollow, muscular and pear-shaped, the gallbladder is a small organ – only about 3 inches in length and 1.5 inches in width at its widest point. The larger end of the gallbladder extends inferiorly and to the right while the tapered end points superiorly and medially. The tapered end of the gallbladder narrows into a small bile duct known as the cystic duct. The cystic duct connects to the common hepatic duct that carries bile from the liver. These ducts merge to form the common bile duct that extends to the wall of the duodenum. Microscopic Anatomy The mucosa, which forms the innermost layer of the gallbladder, lines the gallbladder with simple columnar epithelial tissue.

The columnar epithelial tissue contains microvilli on its surface, increasing the surface area and allowing the lining to absorb water and concentrate the dilute bile. Beneath the columnar tissue is a thin lamina propria layer made of connective tissue and capillaries that support and anchor the epithelial layer. Deep to the lamina propria is the muscularis layer that contains smooth muscle tissue. Contraction of the muscularis pushes bile out of the gallbladder and into the cystic duct. Surrounding the muscularis is a thin layer of fibrous connective tissue that helps to reinforce and strengthen the wall of the gallbladder. Finally, the serosa forms the outermost layer of the gallbladder. The serosa is an epithelial layer that forms part of the peritoneum, or lining of the abdominal cavity. The serosa gives the gallbladder a smooth, slick surface to prevent friction between moving organs. Physiology of the Gallbladder Storage The gallbladder acts as a storage vessel for bile produced by the liver . Bile is produced by hepatocytes cells in the liver and passes through the bile ducts to the cystic duct .

From the cystic duct, bile is pushed into the gallbladder by peristalsis (muscle contractions that occur in orderly waves). Bile is then slowly concentrated by absorption of water through the walls of the gallbladder. The gallbladder stores this concentrated bile until it is needed to digest the next meal. Stimulation Foods rich in proteins or fats are more difficult for the body to digest when compared to carbohydrate-rich foods (see Macronutrients ). The walls of the duodenum contain sensory receptors that monitor the chemical makeup of chyme (partially digested food) that passes through the pyloric sphincter into the duodenum. When these cells detect proteins or fats, they respond by producing the hormone cholecystokinin (CCK). CCK enters the bloodstream and travels to the gallbladder where it stimulates the smooth muscle tissue in the walls of the gallbladder. Secretion When CCK reaches the gallbladder, it triggers the smooth muscle tissue in the muscularis layer of the gallbladder to contract. The contraction of smooth muscle forces bile out of the gallbladder and into the cystic duct.

From the cystic duct, bile enters the common bile duct and flows into the ampulla of Vater , where the bile ducts merge with the pancreatic duct . Bile then flows from the ampulla of Vater into the duodenum where it breaks the fats into smaller masses for easier digestion by the enzyme pancreatic lipase. Gallstones Gallstones are hard masses of bile salts, pigments, and cholesterol that develop within the gallbladder. These solid masses form when the components of bile crystallize. Growing slowly over many years as more crystallization occurs, gallstones may reach up to an inch in diameter. Most gallstones remain in the gallbladder and are harmless, but they can be pushed out of the gallbladder along with bile and potentially block the neck of the gallbladder or one of the bile ducts. Blockage of the gallbladder or cystic duct may result in cholecystitis, a painful inflammation of the gallbladder. Even worse, blockage of the common bile duct may result in jaundice and liver damage, while blockage of the ampulla of Vater can lead to pancreatitis . Both liver damage and pancreatitis are potentially life-threatening conditions.

Gallstones are most often treated by a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. Prepared by Tim Taylor, Anatomy and Physiology Instructor Secretion of Bile and the Role of Bile Acids In Digestion Glossary Secretion of Bile and the Role of Bile Acids In Digestion Bile is a complex fluid containing water, electrolytes and a battery of organic molecules including bile acids, cholesterol, phospholipids and bilirubin that flows through the biliary tract into the small intestine. There are two fundamentally important functions of bile in all species: Bile contains bile acids, which are critical for digestion and absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins in the small intestine. Many waste products, including bilirubin, are eliminated from the body by secretion into bile and elimination in feces. Adult humans produce 400 to 800 ml of bile daily, and other animals proportionately similar amounts. The secretion of bile can be considered to occur in two stages: Initially, hepatocytes secrete bile into canaliculi, from which it flows into bile ducts. This hepatic bile contains large quantities of bile acids, cholesterol and other organic molecules.

As bile flows through the bile ducts it is modified by addition of a watery, bicarbonate-rich secretion from ductal epithelial cells. In species with a gallbladder (man and most domestic animals except horses and rats), further modification of bile occurs in that organ. The gall bladder stores and concentrates bile during the fasting state. Typically, bile is concentrated five-fold in the gall bladder by absorption of water and small electrolytes - virtually all of the organic molecules are retained. Secretion into bile is a major route for eliminating cholesterol. Free cholesterol is virtually insoluble in aqueous solutions, but in bile, it is made soluble by bile acids and lipids like lecithin. Gallstones , most of which are composed predominantly of cholesterol, result from processes that allow cholesterol to precipitate from solution in bile. Role of Bile Acids in Fat Digestion and Absorption Bile acids are derivatives of cholesterol synthesized in the hepatocyte.

Cholesterol, ingested as part of the diet or derived from hepatic synthesis is converted into the bile acids cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids, which are then conjugated to an amino acid (glycine or taurine) to yield the conjugated form that is actively secreted into cannaliculi. Bile acids are facial amphipathic, that is, they contain both hydrophobic (lipid soluble) and polar (hydrophilic) faces. The cholesterol-derived portion of a bile acid has one face that is hydrophobic (that with methyl groups) and one that is hydrophilic (that with the hydroxyl groups); the amino acid conjugate is polar and hydrophilic. Their amphipathic nature enables bile acids to carry out two important functions: Emulsification of lipid aggregates: Bile acids have detergent action on particles of dietary fat which causes fat globules to break down or be emulsified into minute, microscopic droplets. Emulsification is not digestion per se, but is of importance because it greatly increases the surface area of fat, making it available for digestion by lipases, which cannot access the inside of lipid droplets.

Solubilization and transport of lipids in an aqueous environment: Bile acids are lipid carriers and are able to solubilize many lipids by forming micelles - aggregates of lipids such as fatty acids, cholesterol and monoglycerides - that remain suspended in water. Bile acids are also critical for transport and absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins . Role of Bile Acids in Cholesterol Homeostasis Hepatic synthesis of bile acids accounts for the majority of cholesterol breakdown in the body. In humans, roughly 500 mg of cholesterol are converted to bile acids and eliminated in bile every day. This route for elimination of excess cholesterol is probably important in all animals, but particularly in situations of massive cholesterol ingestion . Interestingly, it has recently been demonstrated that bile acids participate in cholesterol metabolism by functioning as hormones that alter the transcription of the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. Enterohepatic Recirculation Large amounts of bile acids are secreted into the intestine every day, but only relatively small quantities are lost from the body. This is because approximately 95% of the bile acids delivered to the duodenum are absorbed back into blood within the ileum.

Venous blood from the ileum goes straight into the portal vein, and hence through the sinusoids of the liver. Hepatocytes extract bile acids very efficiently from sinusoidal blood, and little escapes the healthy liver into systemic circulation. Bile acids are then transported across the hepatocytes to be resecreted into canaliculi. The net effect of this enterohepatic recirculation is that each bile salt molecule is reused about 20 times, often two or three times during a single digestive phase. It should be noted that liver disease can dramatically alter this pattern of recirculation - for instance, sick hepatocytes have decreased ability to extract bile acids from portal blood and damage to the canalicular system can result in escape of bile acids into the systemic circulation. Assay of systemic levels of bile acids is used clinically as a sensitive indicator of hepatic disease. Pattern and Control of Bile Secretion The flow of bile is lowest during fasting, and a majority of that is diverted into the gallbladder for concentration. When chyme from an ingested meal enters the small intestine, acid and partially digested fats and proteins stimulate secretion of cholecystokinin and secretin.

As discussed previously, these enteric hormones have important effects on pancreatic exocrine secretion. They are both also important for secretion and flow of bile: Cholecystokinin: The name of this hormone describes its effect on the biliary system - cholecysto = gallbladder and kinin = movement. The most potent stimulus for release of cholecystokinin is the presence of fat in the duodenum. Once released, it stimulates contractions of the gallbladder and common bile duct, resulting in delivery of bile into the gut. Secretin: This hormone is secreted in response to acid in the duodenum. Its effect on the biliary system is very similar to what was seen in the pancreas - it simulates biliary duct cells to secrete bicarbonate and water, which expands the volume of bile and increases its flow out into the intestine. The processes of gallbladder filling and emptying described here can be visualized using an imaging technique called scintography . This procedure is utilized as a diagnostic aid in certain types of hepatobiliary disease. Regulation of Bile Release Regulation of Bile Release Bile Bile is produced in the liver by hepatocytes.

Bile contains phospholipids and bile salts, emulsifying agents that are necessary for fat absorption and digestion. Importantly, the bile is also a route for excretion of cholesterol and bile pigments. Bile pigments are metabolic breakdown products of hemoglobin and cytochromes that give bile its yellow-green color. Bile pigments are further metabolized by bacteria in the colon, causing feces to have a characteristic brown color. Additionally, bile contains water and bicarbonate ions that are secreted by duct cells that line the bile ducts within the liver. Bile storage in the gallbladder Whether or not bile is released into the small intestine depends upon the activity of the sphincter of Oddi (also known as the hepatopancreatic sphincter). During the interdigestive period, the sphincter of Oddi is contracted, preventing bile from flowing out into the duodenum. As a consequence, pressure increases in the common bile duct, and bile flows into the gallbladder. In the gallbladder, epithelial cells reabsorb water and electrolytes, causing the bile to become more concentrated.

Bile release into the small intestine During the digestive period, intestinal phase signals stimulate the release of bile into the small intestine. Fatty acids in the lumen of the duodenum stimulate endocrine cells to release the hormone cholecystokinin (CCK). CCK stimulates contractions in the smooth muscle of the gallbladder. As well, CCK causes relaxation of the sphincter of Oddi, allowing bile release into the duodenum. Acidic chyme in the lumen of the duodenum stimulates other endocrine cells to release the hormone secretin. Secretin stimulates duct cells in the liver to release bicarbonate into the bile. Enterohepatic circulation The total pool of bile salts present in the body is not sufficient to fully process the fats in a typical meal, thus bile salts need to be recycled. This is achieved by the enterohepatic circulation. Specific transporters in the terminal ileum move bile salts from the lumen of the digestive tract to the intestinal capillaries. They are then transported directly to the liver via the hepatic portal vein.

Hepatocytes take up bile salts from the blood, and increase the secretion of bile salts into the bile canaliculi, small passageways that convey bile into the larger bile ducts. 95% of the bile that is released to the small intestine is recycled via the enterohepatic circulation,while 5% of the bile salts are lost in the feces. Gallstones In the majority of cases, gallstones are precipitates of cholesterol. Cholesterol is a nonpolar molecule that is kept in solution in the bile by bile salts and phospholipids. Gallstones form when the level of cholesterol in the bile exceeds the capacity of the phospholipids and bile salts to keep it in solution. This might occur in someone with hypercholesterolemia (high circulating levels of LDL cholesterol), or in an older person in whom bile salt synthetic enzymes have become less active. Gallstones can be completely asymptomatic. When they become a problem is when gallbladder contractions cause a stone to move into one of the bile ducts. The figure summarizes the pathological consequences of gallstones in different locations. Notably, a gallstone blocking the common bile duct will prevent the flow of bile into the small intestine.

This causes decreased excretion of bile pigments and can lead to jaundice as bilirubin accumulates in tissues. If the gallstone is lodged in the duodenal papilla, it will block the release of pancreatic secretions. Inappropriate activation of pancreatic zymogens within the pancreas leads to acute pancreatitis (tissue damage and inflammation in the pancreas). Gallstones are usually treated by surgical methods. Gallstones confined to the gallbladder and cystic bile duct can be treated with removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). Endoscopic surgical methods can be used to remove gallstones lodged in the common bile duct or duodenal papilla. In patients that are not good candidates for surgery, shock waves can be used to break up stones. Oral bile salts are used to help solubilize cholesterol gallstones. This therapy works because oral bile salts are delivered to the bile ducts and gallbladder by the enterohepatic circulation. Quick Quiz What organ in the human body produces bile? | Reference.com What organ in the human body produces bile?

A: Quick Answer Bile and pancreatic juices are produced by the liver and pancreas, which are organs that are part of the digestive system. Biliary juices, or bile, are created in tissue inside the liver called hepatic parenchyma, and then make their way into the biliary ductal system. Small ducts form together and merge into a single river like stream that exits into the duodenum. Stomach, Gallbladder and Pancreas | Interactive Anatomy Guide Home > Digestive System > Digestive System of the Lower Torso > Stomach, Gallbladder and Pancreas Stomach, Gallbladder and Pancreas The stomach, gallbladder, and pancreas are three of the most important digestive organs in the human body. These organs work together to produce and store secretions that digest our food into its most basic building blocks. Once digested, these small molecules pass into our intestines to be absorbed and to feed our body’s tissues. These three major organs also produce hormones that help to coordinate their functions and even lead to the feeling of fullness after consuming a meal....

Move up/down/left/right: Click compass arrows Rotate image: Click and drag in any direction, anywhere in the frame Identify objects: Click on them in the image Full Stomach, Gallbladder and Pancreas Description [Continued from above] . . . Anatomy of the Stomach, Gallbladder, and Pancreas Stomach A hollow muscular organ about the size of 2 closed fists, the stomach is located inferior to the diaphragm and lateral to the liver on the left side of the abdominal cavity. The stomach forms part of the gastrointestinal tract between the esophagus and the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine). The wall of the stomach contains several layers of epithelium, smooth muscle, nerves, and blood vessels. The innermost layer of the stomach is made of epithelium containing many invaginations known as gastric pits. The cells of the gastric pits produce gastric juice - an acidic mixture of mucus, enzymes and hydrochloric acid. The hollow portion of the stomach serves as the storage vessel for food before it moves on to the intestines to be further digested and absorbed. At the inferior end of the stomach is a band of smooth muscle called the pyloric sphincter.

The pyloric sphincter opens and closes to regulate the flow of food into the duodenum. Gallbladder The gallbladder is a 3-inch long pear-shaped sac located on the posterior border of the liver. Connected to the bile ducts of the liver through the cystic duct , the gallbladder receives bile transported from the liver for storage on a regular basis to prepare for the digestion of future meals. During digestion of a meal, smooth muscles in the walls of the gallbladder contract to push bile into the bile ducts that lead to the duodenum. Once in the duodenum, bile helps with the digestion of fats. Pancreas The pancreas is a 6-inch long heterocrine gland located inferior to the stomach and surrounded by the duodenum on its medial end. This organ extends laterally from the duodenum toward the left side of the abdominal cavity, where it tapers to a point. The pancreas is considered a heterocrine gland because it has both endocrine and exocrine gland functions. Small masses of endocrine cells known as pancreatic islets make up around 1% of the pancreas and produce the hormones insulin and glucagon to regulate glucose homeostasis in the blood stream.

The other 99% of the pancreas contains exocrine cells that produce powerful enzymes that are excreted into the duodenum during digestion. These enzymes together with water and sodium bicarbonate secreted from the pancreas are known as pancreatic juice. Physiology of the Stomach, Gallbladder, and Pancreas Digestion The stomach, gallbladder, and pancreas work together as a team to perform the majority of the digestion of food. Food entering the stomach from the esophagus has been minimally processed – it has been physically digested by chewing and moistened by saliva, but is chemically almost identical to unchewed food. Upon entering the stomach, each mass of swallowed food comes into contact with the acidic gastric juice, which contains hydrochloric acid and the protein-digesting enzyme pepsin. These chemicals begin working on the chemical digestion of the molecules that make up the food. At the same time, the food is mixed by the smooth muscles of the stomach wall to increase the amount of contact between the food and the gastric juice. The secretions of the stomach also continue the process of moistening and physically softening the food until the food becomes an acidic semi-liquid material known as chyme.

At this point, the stomach begins to push the chyme through the pyloric sphincter and into the duodenum. In the duodenum , the bulk of digestion is completed thanks to the preparation of chyme by the stomach and the addition of secretions from the gallbladder and pancreas. Bile from the gallbladder acts as an emulsifier to break large masses of fats into smaller masses. Pancreatic juice contains bicarbonate ions to neutralize the hydrochloric acid of chyme. Enzymes present in the pancreatic juice complete the chemical digestion of large molecules that began in the mouth and stomach. The completely digested food is then ready for absorption by the intestines . Storage The stomach, gallbladder, and pancreas all function together as storage organs of the digestive system. The stomach stores food that has been ingested and releases it in small masses to the duodenum. The release of small masses of food at a time improves the digestive efficiency of the intestines, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas and prevents undigested food from making its way into feces. As they are accessory organs of the digestive system, the gallbladder and pancreas have no food passing through them.

They do, however, act as storage organs by storing the chemicals necessary for the chemical digestion of foods. The gallbladder stores bile produced by the liver so that there is a sufficient supply of bile on hand to digest fats at any given time. The pancreas stores the pancreatic juice produced by its own exocrine glands so that it is prepared to digest foods at all times. Secretion The stomach, gallbladder, and pancreas all share the common function of secretion of substances from exocrine glands. The stomach contains 3 different exocrine cells inside of its gastric pits: mucous cells, parietal cells, and chief cells. Mucous cells produce mucus and bicarbonate ion that cover the surface of the stomach lining, protecting the underlying cells from the damaging effects of hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes. Parietal cells produce hydrochloric acid to digest foods and kill pathogens that enter the body through the mouth. Chief cells produce the protein pepsinogen that is turned into the enzyme pepsin when it comes into contact with hydrochloric acid. Pepsin digests proteins into their component amino acids. The mixture of mucus, hydrochloric acid, and pepsin is known as gastric juice.

Gastric juice mixes with food to produce chyme, which the stomach releases into the duodenum for further digestion. The gallbladder stores and secretes bile into the duodenum to aid in the digestion of chyme. A mixture of water, bile salts, cholesterol, and bilirubin, bile emulsifies large masses of fats into smaller masses. These smaller masses have a higher ratio of surface area to volume when compared to large masses, making it easier for them to be digested. The pancreas stores and secretes pancreatic juice into the duodenum to complete the chemical digestion of food that began in the mouth and stomach. Pancreatic juice contains a mixture of enzymes including amylases, proteases, lipases, and nucleases. Carbohydrates entering the small intestine are broken down into monosaccharides by enzymes such as pancreatic amylase, maltase, and lactase. Proteins in the duodenum are chemically digested into amino acids by pancreatic enzymes such as trypsin and carboxypeptidase. Pancreatic lipase breaks triglycerides into fatty acids and monoglycerides.

The nucleic acids DNA and RNA are broken down by nucleases into their component sugars and nitrogenous bases. Hormones Several hormones are used to regulate the functions of the stomach, gallbladder, and pancreas. The hormones gastrin, cholecystokinin, and secretin are secreted by organs of the digestive system in response to the presence of food and change the function of the stomach, gallbladder, and pancreas. Our pancreas produces the hormones insulin and glucagon to affect the behavior of cells throughout the body. Gastrin is a hormone produced by the walls of the stomach in response to the filling of the stomach with food. Food stretches the stomach walls and raises the normally acidic pH of the stomach. G cells in the gastric glands of the stomach respond to these changes by producing gastrin. G cells release gastrin into the blood where it stimulates the exocrine cells of the stomach to produce gastric juice. Gastrin also stimulates smooth muscle tissue of the gastrointestinal tract to increase the mixing and movement of food. Finally, gastrin relaxes the smooth muscles that form the pyloric sphincter, causing the pyloric sphincter to open.

The opening of the pyloric sphincter allows food stored in the stomach to begin entering the duodenum for further digestion and absorption in the intestines. Cholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone produced in the walls of the small intestine , is released into the bloodstream in response to the presence of chyme in the intestine that contains high levels of proteins and fats. Proteins and fats are more difficult for the body to digest than carbohydrates are, so CCK is important in making changes to the digestive system to handle these types of foods. CCK travels through the bloodstream to the stomach, where it slows the emptying of the stomach to give the intestines more time to digest the protein- and fat-rich chyme. CCK also stimulates the gallbladder and pancreas to increase their secretion of bile and pancreatic juice to improve the digestion of fats and proteins. Finally, CCK is detected by receptors in the satiety center of the hypothalamus that control the feeling of hunger. The satiety center reads the presence of CCK as an indication that the body is no longer hungry for food.

Secretin is another hormone produced by the intestinal walls, but unlike CCK, it is produced in response to the acidity of chyme that the stomach releases into the duodenum. Secretin flows through the bloodstream to the stomach, where it inhibits the production of hydrochloric acid by parietal cells. Secretin also binds to receptors in the gallbladder and pancreas, stimulating them to secrete increased amounts of bile and pancreatic juice. Sodium bicarbonate present in pancreatic juice neutralizes the acidity of the chyme to prevent damage to the walls of the duodenum and provides a neutral pH environment for the digestion of chyme. Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreatic islets of the pancreas. The pancreas produces insulin in response to the presence of high levels of glucose in the blood. Insulin stimulates cells, particularly in the liver and skeletal muscles , to absorb glucose from the blood and use it as an energy source or store it as glycogen. Insulin also stimulates adipocytes to absorb glucose to build triglycerides for energy storage. Our body produces higher levels of insulin following a meal in order to remove glucose molecules from the blood before they can reach high concentrations and become toxic to the body’s cells.

Glucagon is a hormone produced by the alpha cells of the pancreatic islets of the pancreas. Glucagon acts as an antagonist to insulin by stimulating the release of glucose into the bloodstream to raise blood glucose levels between meals. Hepatocytes in the liver store glucose in large macromolecules known as glycogen. Glucagon binding to receptors on hepatocytes triggers the breakdown of glycogen into many glucose molecules, which are then released into the bloodstream. Prepared by Tim Taylor, Anatomy and Physiology Instructor Digestive System Digestive System The digestive system takes in food and breaks it down so it can be used by the body. Job of the digestive system Digestion involves mixing food with digestive juices, moving it through the digestive tract, and breaking down large molecules of food into smaller molecules. The digestive system is made up of the digestive tract—a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus—and other organs that help the body break down and absorb food. Peristalsis looks like an ocean wave traveling through the muscle. The muscle of the organ contracts to create a narrowing and then propels the narrowed portion slowly down the length of the organ.

These waves of narrowing push the food and fluid in front of them through each hollow organ. Parts of the digestive system Mucosa: In the mouth, stomach, and small intestine, the mucosa contains tiny glands that produce juices to help digest food. The digestive tract also contains a layer of smooth muscle that helps break down food and move it along the tract. Mouth: Composed of the tongue, teeth, salivary glands and other muscles that take in the food and begins the process of breaking it down. Esophagus: A long tube that carries food from the mouth down to the stomach to continue the digestive process. Stomach: First, it stores the swallowed food and liquid. To do this, the muscle of the upper part of the stomach relaxes to accept large volumes of swallowed material. The second job is to mix up the food, liquid, and digestive juice produced by the stomach. The lower part of the stomach mixes these materials by its muscle action. The third task of the stomach is to empty its contents slowly into the small intestine. Stores the liver's digestive juices until they are needed in the intestine. Liver: Produces another digestive juice called bile. Bile is stored between meals in the gallbladder.

At mealtime, it is squeezed out of the gallbladder, through the bile ducts, and into the intestine to mix with the fat in food. The bile acids dissolve fat into the watery contents of the intestine, much like detergents that dissolve grease from a frying pan. After fat is dissolved, it is digested by enzymes from the pancreas and the lining of the intestine. Pancreas: Produces a juice that contains a wide array of enzymes to break down the carbohydrate, fat, and protein in food. Other enzymes that are active in the process come from glands in the wall of the intestine. Small intestine: Most digested molecules of food, as well as water and minerals, are absorbed through the small intestine. The mucosa of the small intestine contains many folds that are covered with tiny fingerlike projections called villi. In turn, the villi are covered with microscopic projections called microvilli. These structures create a vast surface area through which nutrients can be absorbed. Specialized cells allow absorbed materials to cross the mucosa into the blood, where they are carried off in the bloodstream to other parts of the body for storage or further chemical change. This part of the process varies with different types of nutrients.

Large intestine (Colon): The waste products of this process include undigested parts of the food, known as fiber, and older cells that have been shed from the mucosa. These materials are pushed into the colon, where they remain until the feces are expelled by a bowel movement. Rectum: The final portion of the large intestine. Anus: The opening at the end of the digestive tract in which solid wastes are eliminated. Pancreas | Organs | MUSC Digestive Disease Center Map/Directions Pancreas The pancreas and bile duct (biliary) systems together form an important part of the digestive system. The pancreas and liver produce juices (pancreatic juice and bile) which help in the process of digestion (i.e. the breakdown of foods into parts which can be absorbed easily and used by the body). The pancreas is about the same size and shape as a small banana, and lies in the upper abdomen, towards the back, near the spine. The pancreas is solid (acinar tissues), and contains drainage tubes (the pancreatic ductal system). The pancreatic juices are made in the acinar tissues, and passed by secretion into the tubes (ducts) for transport into the duodenum .

The exit hole into the duodenum is called the papilla of Vater. The biliary juices (bile) are made in the tissues of the liver (hepatic parenchyma), and then pass into the biliary ductal system (picture). Like a river, these ducts gradually join together to form one stream in the main bile duct, which exits (along with the pancreatic duct) into the duodenum at the "papilla of Vater." The gallbladder is a storage chamber for bile, joined to the side of the bile duct by another small tube  the cystic duct. The anatomy (design) of the biliary and pancreatic ducts is not the same in every person. Variations can be important; some can cause medical problems, others may make treatment more difficult or complicated. Papilla of Vater and Minor (Accessory) Papilla The main papilla of Vater is a small nipple-like structure on the wall of the duodenum, in its "second part." The duodenum is the upper part of the small intestine , into which food flows from the stomach .

The papilla forms the main exit hole for the bile and pancreatic juices which flow down the bile duct and pancreatic duct. Rarely there are two separate holes close together within the same papillary nipple. The papilla remains closed at rest, because of the activity of a muscular valve (sphincter). The sphincter (of Oddi) surrounds the exit of the bile duct and pancreatic duct. It opens by reflex action when foods enter the stomach, so that juices can be released to help in their digestion. In most people there is a second smaller (minor, or accessory) papilla, situated about 2 cm (3/4 inch) above the main papilla, and slightly to its right. This is the exit hole for Santorini's duct. The minor papilla occasionally acts as a useful safety valve when the main papilla is not able to function correctly, but becomes the main site of drainage for pancreatic juices in the congenital variant called pancreas divisum. Bile Duct System and Gallbladder The bile duct (biliary) system provides the channels through which bile is transported from the liver to the duodenum (through the papilla of Vater).

The liver is found in the right upper corner of the abdomen, immediately below the diaphragm. In health it weighs 3-4 pounds. It is divided into right and left lobes, and each of these have several segments. The bile ducts start as tiny tubes called sinusoids which lie between rows of liver cells called hepatocytes. These liver cells make bile, and pass it into the tiny canals (cannaliculi). The small ducts join together like branches to form the main biliary tree, with one trunk which is formed just outside the surface of the liver. This is called the common hepatic duct. The gallbladder is a collection sac for bile, which enters and leaves through a narrow tube called the cystic duct. The gallbladder is about the size of an egg when full. The bile duct below the cystic duct is usually called the common bile duct. The common bile duct and the common hepatic duct together constitute the main bile duct. The lower end of the bile duct sweeps around behind the duodenum and through the head of the pancreas before joining the pancreatic duct at the main papilla (of Vater).

Pancreatic Duct System There is a main pancreatic duct which collects juices from all the branches of the pancreatic stream, and exits at the main papilla of Vater. The pattern of these branches varies considerably, but this does not matter. However, there is often another important duct (named after Santorini) that connects the main pancreatic duct to another small papilla (the minor or accessory papilla) which is found about 2 cm (3/4 inch) above the main papilla of Vater in the duodenum. This (normal) arrangement comes about as a result of complex reorganization during fetal development. Early in the development of the embryo, the pancreas is in two parts (dorsal and ventral elements). These parts usually join together to form one pancreas between six and eight weeks of pregnancy. Even after joining, the santorini stays open or "patent," and drains into the minor papilla in over half of patients. Thus, the patient who develops a problem at the main papilla (like a stone or tumor) may not develop any symptoms of pancreatic obstruction if Santorini's duct and the minor papilla are open, and can take over the drainage function.

An X-ray image of the biliary tree during an ERCP procedure. However, this fusion (joining) does not happen in about one in twelve people (at least in western populations). Then the pancreas remains divided (so called "pancreas divisum"). In patients with divisum, the largest (dorsal) part of the pancreas drains through Santorini's duct and the minor papilla, while only a small part (the ventral pancreas) drains through the usual (major) papilla. The importance of this is that the minor papilla may be too small to allow easy passage of the pancreatic juices; and some patients with pancreas divisum can develop attacks of pain and pancreatitis as a result due to this relative narrowing. There are other rarer variations of pancreatic anatomy. Annular pancreas describes a congenital condition in which one of the branches of the pancreas swings all around the duodenum; this can narrow the duodenum sufficiently to cause obstruction and require operation. This condition usually presents in infancy (for obvious reasons), but can be discovered only later in life if the narrowing is not so tight, and sometimes when attacks of pancreatitis are associated with it.

Other anomalies of pancreas development produce interesting pictures, but are not of clinical importance. Function & Control The tissues of the pancreas (acinar cells) produce a clear digestive fluid made up of bicarbonate, and enzymes. Bicarbonate is alkaline, and helps digestion by neutralizing the stomach acid containing the food as it passes into the duodenum. The enzymes are more important. These are designed to help breakdown (digest) complex carbohydrates (sugars), proteins, and fats in the food. The main enzymes are called amylase, proteases (trypsin, chymotrypsin), and lipase. The enzyme and bicarbonate secretions together are called the "exocrine" function of the pancreas. The bile ducts function as a drainage system for the liver. Bile is a bitter dark fluid, composed of bile acids, bile pigments, bilirubin, cholesterol and other fats, water and electrolytes. Some of these constituents are useful for digestion, others are simply waste products (i.e. cholesterol). The gallbladder acts to store bile, and make it more concentrated by removing water.

Although thin, the gallbladder wall has muscle tissue, so that it can contract and empty when necessary. Production of the bile and pancreas juices and their release into the duodenum through the papilla of Vater are controlled by abdominal nerves and also specific messengers (hormones) which pass to their targets through the bloodstream. These systems also control contractions of the gallbladder, and relaxation of the sphincter of Oddi (the muscular valve within the papilla of Vater). Together these insure that the juices are produced and released into the duodenum only when they are needed, that is when food arrives from the stomach ready for final digestion, and subsequent absorption. The pancreas also has an "endocrine" function  the production of insulin and other important hormones. These are produced in separate tissues within the pancreas (islets of Langerhans), and passed directly into the blood stream (rather than into the pancreatic duct). Insulin is very important for control of sugar levels in the blood; lack of insulin results in diabetes. The pancreas produces many other enzymes (such as somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide, glucagon, etc.), the functions of which are of less immediate importance.

Glucagon helps counteract insulin and helps prevent hypoglycemia, a common problem after extensive/total pancreas surgery. Dysfunction & Symptoms Pancreatic juices may not reach the duodenum if the duct or papilla is blocked, or if the pancreas is so damaged by disease that it cannot produce adequate bicarbonate and enzymes. Lack of pancreatic juices results in inadequate digestion. Clinically this is noteworthy by the passage of large bowel movements, which a strong odor and are difficult to flush down the toilet because of their high content of fat. Indeed, sometimes patients with pancreatic insufficiency may note an "oil slick" on the toilet water. Excessive fat in the stools is called "steatorrhea." Because food is not absorbed properly patients usually lose weight. These pancreatic enzymes can be replaced, at least to a certain extent, by giving them in the form of a medicine by mouth  so called pancreatic enzyme supplements. It is not usually necessary to replace the missing bicarbonate output. Lack of bile also interferes with digestion (particularly of fats) and can also result in steatorrhea. Lack of bile in the duodenum is usually due to blockage of the main bile duct, or papilla.

The liver continues to produce bile, which then spills backwards into the blood stream. Eventually this causes yellow discoloration of the body (jaundice), first noticeable in the whites of the eyes. If bile does not enter the duodenum, bowel movements lose their usual color, and look like pale putty. When the bile ducts are blocked, retention of bile salts in the blood can result also in considerable itching (pruritus). Blockage of the bile ducts or pancreatic ducts can cause pain due to overdistention. Lack of insulin secretion by the pancreas results in diabetes. It is also possible to have too much insulin when the islets of Langerhans overact, or become tumorous. This results in the blood sugar falling below normal levels, resulting in faintness and eventually coma. Lack or excess of other pancreatic hormones (such as somatostatin, vasoinhibitory peptide, glucagon, etc.) can cause unusual symptoms very rarely. Related Pages If your gallbladder is removed where is the bile stored? Does your body work without it? | eNotes If your gallbladder is removed where is the bile stored? Does your body work without it?

besure77 | Middle School Teacher | (Level 1) Senior Educator Posted on September 7, 2010 at 3:47 AM On a personal note, I have had my gallbladder removed and I can tell you that having it removed causes no major side effects. A person can live a normal lifestyle without it. I had many gall stones in mine that caused a great deal of pain because they were blocking the ducts. The function of the gallbladder is to store bile. Bile is important for a couple of different reasons. First of all, bile breaks down fats so that our bodies can use them. Secondly, bile helps to remove toxins from the liver that can be very damaging. Not only is bile stored in the gallbladder but it is also directly released into the small intestines, where our bodies use it effectively. So basically when the gallbladder is removed it means that the "storage facility" for the bile no longer exists but our body still makes and uses bile as it is needed. like 1 dislike 0 September 7, 2010 at 1:28 AM The removal of gallbladder does not cause long term problems.

After surgery, the liver continues to produce bile, but the bile passes through the common bile duct it flows directly into the small intestine. The patient continues to eat normally. Because bile is secreted more frequently than normal, the faeces can become liquid. If the problem persists, the diet have to be changed. The first step is the avoiding of fatty foods. Also, an additional dietary fiber intake could be beneficial. In addition, cholestyramine helps the bile to be absorbed by the intestine and it reduces unpleasant symptoms. Forbidden foods after gallbladder removal: Meat - pork, lamb, duck, goose, oily fish, canned meat and fish. Dairy - fatty cheese, fermented cheese. Eggs - fried eggs, large amounts of egg yolk. Fat - fried in any way, lard, tallow. Bread - black or very fresh bread. Vegetables - cucumber, radishes, kale, cabbage, dried bean, raw vegetables, dried vegetables. Dessert - prepared with more fats and butter, those prepared with nuts, chocolate, cocoa. Spices - pepper, irritating.

September 7, 2010 at 12:42 AM In a healthy person the bile produced in the liver is stored in the gall bladder where it becomes more concentrated. This concentrated bile is then released into the intestines to help in the digestive process. In the absence of a gall bladder the bile directly goes into the intestine from the liver. It doesn’t need to be stored anywhere. The removal of the gall bladder does not affect digestion. Around 15% of patients, who have had their gall bladders removed, face small problems like loose motion and a watery stool. This usually gets cured within a few weeks of the operation. like 0 dislike 0 Pancreas Function Function of the Pancreas The pancreas has two functional components The pancreas is really two glands that are intimately mixed together into one organ. The bulk of the pancreas is composed of “exocrine” cells that produce enzymes to help with the digestion of food. These exocrine cells release their enzymes into a series of progressively larger tubes (called ducts) that eventually join together to form the main pancreatic duct.

The main pancreatic duct runs the length of the pancreas and drains the fluid produced by the exocrine cells into the duodenum, the first part of the small bowel. The second functional component of the pancreas is the "endocrine" pancreas. The endocrine pancreas is composed of small islands of cells, called the islets of Langerhans. These endocrine cells don’t release their secretions into the pancreatic ducts, instead they release hormones, such as insulin and glucagon, into the blood stream, and these hormones in turn help control blood sugar (glucose) levels. Acinar cells Acinar cells are the exocrine (exo=outward) cells of the pancreas that produce and transport enzymes that are passed into the duodenum where they assist in the digestion of food. Islets of Langerhans The islets of Langerhans are the endocrine (endo= within) cells of the pancreas that produce and secrete hormones such as insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. The pancreatic hormones, insulin and glucagon, work together to maintain the proper level of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Blood sugar is used by the body for energy.

An understanding of the two functional components of the pancreas is important for two reasons. First, as they grow large tumors of the pancreas will interfere with both of these important bodily functions. When tumors block the exocrine system, patients can develop pancreatitis and pain from the abnormal release of digestive enzymes into the substance of the pancreas instead of into the bowel, and they can develop digestive problems, such as diarrhea, from the incomplete digestion of food. When tumors destroy the endocrine function of the pancreas, patients can develop sugar diabetes (abnormally high blood sugar levels). The second reason that the two functional components of the pancreas are important to understand is that tumors can arise in either component. The vast majority of tumors of the pancreas arise in the exocrine part and these cancers look like pancreatic ducts under the microscope. These tumors are therefore called "ductal adenocarcinomas," or simply "adenocarcinoma," or even more simply "pancreatic cancer." Less commonly, tumors arise from the endocrine component of the pancreas and these endocrine tumors are called "pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors," or "islet cell tumors" for short. How does it all fit together?

The pancreas is an integral part of the digestive system, and the flow of the digestive system is often altered during the surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer. Therefore it is helpful to review the normal flow of food and the flow of digestive enzymes of the pancreas before reading about surgical treatment. Food is carried from the mouth to the stomach by the esophagus. The esophagus is a tube that descends from the mouth down into the abdomen. In the abdomen, the esophagus empties into the stomach where digestive acids made by the stomach break down the food. From the stomach, the partially digested food flows directly into the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum. It is here in the duodenum that bile from the liver and digestive enzymes from the pancreas enter the digestive system. The duodenum then leads to the other parts of the small bowel, the jejunum and ileum, where further digestion of food takes place. The ileum then empties into the large bowel (also known as the large intestine), and finally completely digestive material passes out of the body through the anus. What is bile?

Bile is important to understand because the flow of bile is often blocked by pancreatic cancers, and because the flow of bile is altered during surgery for pancreatic cancer. Bile is a greenish-yellow fluid that aids in the digestion of fats in food. After being produced by cells in the liver, the bile travels down through the bile ducts which merge with the cystic duct from the gallbladder to form the common bile duct. The gallbladder stores extra bile until needed. The common bile duct then passes through the head of the pancreas and joins the pancreatic duct to form the ampulla of Vater which then empties into the duodenum. The flow of bile is indicated by the green arrows. Understanding that the tube (duct) carrying bile from the liver passes through the pancreas on its way to the intestine, helps us understand why some people with pancreatic cancer develop jaundice (an abnormal yellowing of the skin and eyes). Pancreatic cancers in the head of the pancreas (the bile duct passes through the head of the pancreas) can block the bile duct and in so doing can block the flow of bile out of the liver. The bile backs up and causes jaundice. What is pancreatic fluid?

Instead of carrying bile, the pancreatic duct carries the fluid containing the digestive enzymes produced by the acinar cells (exocrine cells) of the pancreas. The main pancreatic duct is normally only one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter and it has many small side branches. The main pancreatic duct merges with the bile duct in the head of the pancreas to form the ampulla of Vater (a widening of the duct just before it enters the duodenum). Just as was true for bile, the flow of pancreatic fluid is often blocked by tumors of the pancreas, and altered by pancreatic surgery. The flow of pancreatic fluid is indicated by the dark yellow arrow. We subscribe to the HONcode principles.

Question: In which part of the body is bile produced?
Answer: LIVER